Rep. Jake Auchincloss

I don't want a shutdown.

Shutdowns are bad for the American people.

They undermine the integrity of the federal government.

And I don't think it's Democrats who are shutting down the government.

Republicans have the White House, the Senate, the House.

They've claimed a mandate.

They've also declared that they, quote, hate Democrats.

And now they have found themselves, with their vaunted mandate, unable to keep the government open precisely because they won't talk to Democrats.

This is Congress 101.

You want a deal.

You negotiate.

But Donald Trump has spent more time and more willingness to negotiate with Hamas than he has with the Democratic Party.

That is a failure of his governance.

Before this shutdown, I put forward a series of proposals

That would be a starting point to get to yes.

Talked about reversing the worst of the Medicaid cuts, particularly through Medicaid 1115 waivers, which happy to talk more about.

Talking about funding cops grants so that local law enforcement have the tools they need to hire and train police officers.

Talked about a vote on the tariffs that have been the biggest tax hike in the history of the middle class.

Basic things, all of which have a super majority of support from Americans, none of which are esoteric partisan issues, right?

And they haven't so much as picked up the phone.